Independent Commentary about Politics, Sports, the Media, and Current Events

Welcome to “Thursday Numbers!” In case you’re a first-time visitor, this is the weekly column where I take a look at the numbers that are in the news (in descending order) and provide commentary sometimes sprinkled with sarcasm.

This week’s topics include the Mega Millions jackpot, Matt Rosendale & fundraising, unemployment, the cost of President Trump’s visit, fact-checking Trump’s speech in Great Falls, Brett M. Kavanaugh, the best president, Planet Fitness, U.S. Attorneys, and much more!

340,000,000

That’s the jackpot for the next Mega Millions drawing Friday night. (MegaMillions.com)

700,000

That’s how much Republican U.S. Senate candidate Matt Rosendale says he raised over the three weeks following his Republican primary victory on June 5. (AP)

The third-party advertising is going to be ridiculous in the senate race.

214,000

That’s how many people filed new claims for unemployment last week. (USDOL)

40,000

That’s the total estimated cost of the President Trump’s visit to Great Falls on July 5. (GF Tribune)

76

According to the Washington Post fact checkers, the truth took a beating in Montana during President Trump’s speech there on July 5. From a grand total of 98 factual statements identified, 76 percent were false, misleading or unsupported by evidence.

This is just freaking incredible.

53

52

In a recent poll here at The Western Word, that’s the percentage of people who believe the U.S. Senate should confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court. There were 38% who said they should not confirm him and 10% who had no opinion yet.

Thanks to all who participated!

44

When asked which president has done the best job in their lifetimes, more Americans name Barack Obama than any other president. More than four-in-ten (44%) say Obama is the best or second best president of their lifetimes, compared with about a third who mention Bill Clinton (33%) or Ronald Reagan (32%). Not yet halfway through his term, 19% say Donald Trump has done the best or second best job of any president of their lifetimes. (Pew Research)

10

Planet Fitness will open in Great Falls later this year in the building that formerly housed Hastings. Planet Fitness is open 24 hours and charges $10 per month. (GF Tribune)

3

The New York Times is reporting that Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein has asked federal prosecutors to help review the government documents of Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh, President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee. In an email sent this week to the nation’s 93 United States attorneys, Mr. Rosenstein asked each office to provide up to three federal prosecutors “who can make this important project a priority for the next several weeks.”

I guess they will set important prosecutions to the side…

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